Jin Akanishi dropped from drama

Johnny’s talent Jin Akanishi had been cast as the lead for a drama scheduled to start in July but has been dropped, it was revealed on April 14, reports Nikkan Sports.

It has been reported Akanishi’s agency Johnny’s & Associates had asked producers to drop him, and it is another punishment for the talent’s sudden marriage to Meisa Kuroki. It is another blow to the talent, who has already had his national tour cancelled.

The drama in question is a remake of the highly-popular “GTO” series, a live action drama made in 1998 based on the popular manga series about an ex-gang member who becomes a high school teacher. Akanishi had been cast as the lead character before he and Kuroki announced they had gotten married on February 2.

It has been reported Johnny’s had talked to the drama’s producers at Kansai TV early last month, and after some discussions between the two parties they had made their final decision by the end of March. When Nikkan Sports reporters went to ask for an interview, a Kansai TV representative had said they had nothing to comment about, neither denying or confirming the news. However, it has been reported a source within the TV company had said the report was true.

“I had heard Akanishi-san was one of the leading candidates for the role, but it’s been made quite clear he’s out of the picture now,” the source said.

“GTO” would have been Akanishi’s first leading drama role since “Yukan Club” five years ago. It has been reported the TV company is moving ahead with production, and have already started auditioning actors to play school students.

Now, Akanishi’s schedule for the near future is blank. For the 27-year-old talent who said he left KAT-TUN because he hated how his own ambitions were causing the others trouble, this could be his toughest lesson yet.